Duke Anticipated to be Down Two Starters in First Spherical of NCAA Event

[ad_1] Final week, No. 1 Duke gained the ACC Event with a seven-man rotation.

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Patrick Ngongba II is coping with a foot damage and Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer known as the middle's damage "day-to-day" in his information convention after Saturday's 74-40 win over Virginia within the ACC Event closing.

Level guard Caleb Foster is battling a fractured proper foot and isn't anticipated to return till at the least the Closing 4 on the earliest. On Monday, Pete Thamel reported on "ESPN Faculty GameDay" that the potential for Foster returning in any respect within the NCAA Event is "minuscule" at finest.

<img id="11699422" alt="Duke head coach Jon Scheyer high-fives Patrick Ngongba II" caption="RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 21: Head coach Jon Scheyer high-fives Patrick Ngongba II #21 of the Duke Blue Devils against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers in the second half during a first round game of the men's NCAA basketball tournament at Lenovo Center on March 21, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)" credit="" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="6219" height="4147" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" src="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=640&quality=80&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=750&quality=80&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=1000&quality=80&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=1200&quality=80&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=1360&quality=80&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/GettyImages-2205597795.jpeg?w=1600&quality=80&webp=1"/> Extra Information: Chiefs Seem to Have Supplied Travis Kelce a ‘Farewell Deal’

“So, I checked out this and clearly Duke's take care of the Caleb Foster damage," Thamel stated. "There is a miniscule probability he could possibly be again late, late within the event, however it's important to contemplate Duke with out him whenever you're choosing them, I believe."

On Wednesday, Scheyer offered an replace on Ngongba earlier than Duke takes on Siena within the first spherical on Thursday. Scheyer admitted that it is "most unlikely" that the middle will play in opposition to the Saints.

"He is been progressing ... however I believe it is most unlikely that he performs [Thursday]," Scheyer stated, through David Hale of ESPN. "We're taking it day-to-day. He is itching to play, however we're not fairly there simply but. ... We'll do all the things we will to prepare for Saturday and go from there."

Duke knew Ngongba would miss all the ACC Event however left open the likelihood he'd return for the primary spherical. Scheyer claimed the middle has not suffered a setback as he rehabs.

"It isn't a setback," Scheyer stated. "It isn't simply something the place you may say two weeks and also you're again, 12 days and also you're again. You need to take it step-by-step with what he is doing. Every thing goes in a very good route, however I believe the consolation that we wish him to really feel is just not fairly there. In order that's one thing we will solely know daily."

Ngongba is averaging 10.7 factors, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per sport on 22.4 minutes. The six-foot-11, 250-pound heart is a key piece for the rotation and would give Duke an eight-man rotation till Foster might return.